J&K CM condemns Tral attack, most agonizing for me: Naeem Akhtar

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti strongly condemned the grenade attack at Tral today in which two civilians died and many other were injured including an Superintendent Engineer (SE) and Executive Engineer of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department.

Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar, who escaped unhurt in the attack, said the grenade attack, which consumed innocent lives, is a highly condemnable act.

The Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that the attack took place when a Minister had gone to the town to assess the development needs of the area which has remained neglected for decades. She said the vicious cycle of violence which unfortunately has engulfed the state for three decades now needs to be broken to stop the bloodshed and provide a breather to the people who have been choked by it.

“How long are we going to suffer like this on human, developmental, economic, educational and social fronts. We shall have to ponder over for how long this senseless bloodletting is going to consume us.”

Ms Mufti conveyed her sympathies with bereaved families of those killed and also wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“It is really unfortunate that grenade was lobbed at our cavalcade when we reached Tral bazaar,” Akhtar said and added that tragic loss of innocent lives in this gory incident will always pain and haunt him.

He said the perpetrators must eschew the path of violence because till date they have accomplished nothing out of bloodshed except adding to the miseries and sufferings of the people. “I wonder why they chose this day (1st Muharram) to repeat Karbala,” he said.

The Minister said unfortunately the incidents of violence like today’s grenade attack are only aimed at reversing the developmental process which was initiated in Tral area.

“People of Tral like other places too want dependable basic amenities and other facilities and they have every right to demand it from the Government and elected representatives,” he said and urged the people of the area to see and analyse themselves for how much time such incidents can keep Tral out of bounds for development.

The Minister said Government has been focusing to lead Tral into a new era of development but it is these unfortunate incidents of violence that stall the process. “For ages Tral has been unable to cherish the fruits of development and we in the Government wanted to change this scenario by taking up various projects of development.

Our work received a fillip during the last few months as there was comparative peace in the area,” said the Minister. “As of now works worth Rs 100 cr are underway in Tral and our focus is to work in such a way so as to make up for the lost time.”

While pointing to the injured SE of R&B, the Minister said that the officials like him have done a commendable job and it is the general people whose life have been made easier due to the roads and buildings built by them. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of driver of the department who was also injured in the incident.